Paralympic swimming champion Ellie Simmonds said her time on Strictly Come Dancing has been “life-changing” as she became the sixth contestant to be eliminated from the competition. Following the live show on Saturday, the five-time Paralympic gold medallist and broadcaster, 27, found herself in the dreaded dance-off against 21-year-old singer and former Britain’s Got Talent finalist Molly Rainford.
Dressed in a fringed crimson red dress, Simmonds and her dance partner Nikita Kuzmin reprised their lively Charleston to Too Darn Hot from Kiss Me Kate in a bid to impress the judges. During Saturday’s show, Simmonds secured a score of 33 and had the audience and some of the judges on their feet following the routine, which had multiple spins and lifts.
Meanwhile, Rainford and her partner Carlos Gu again performed their foxtrot to You Make Me Happy by My Sun and My Stars, which saw them land 35 points during the live show, with Shirley Ballas describing it as the “epitome of style and sophistication”. After both couples had danced for a second time, it was a unanimous decision by the judges to save Rainford, sending Simmonds packing.
